Disney Springs renovation of Downtown Disney

Transformation of Downtown Disney already begun

Disney Springs

Downtown Disney morphs into Disney Springs

Disney are well into the work that brings about the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, an exciting development that guarantees to bring added fun and excitement to anybody’s vacation in Florida.

Disney Springs official blog entry here

Downtown Disney has been in existence for more than 30 years, so it’s probably about time for a revamp.  The Walt Disney Resort promises more than 150 shops, dining and various entertainment venues.  We can’t wait!

Aside from the end result and how it will improve and attract new visitors, the work will help boost Florida’s economy with over 1200 new construction jobs and 4000 roles in total.

Disney Springs – what is it?

The new site for Disney Springs will contain four main areas:

  • The Town Centre promenade for shopping and relaxing
  • The Landing commercial district on the waterfront
  • The Marketplace is a family-friendly area for all ages
  • The West Side for loads of entertainment venues

All in all, due to complete in 2016.

Florida theme park news

Attractions coming in 2014

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney’s Lego Sculpture

As if visiting Florida wasn’t already awesome, here are some new Florida theme park attractions coming or rumoured in 2014.

Magic Kingdom

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Spring)
  • Festival of Fantasy Parade (Spring)

Disney

  • Brand-New Festival of the Lion King Theatre (actually 2013);
  • Additions to Downtown Disney / Disney Springs

Universal Studios and Resort

  • London and Diagon Alley (spring)
  • Cabana Bay Beach Resort (soon)
  • New restaurants and shops coming to CityWalk

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens and Aquatica

  • A Sea of Surprises (special year-long event starting from January 2014 at SeaWorld Orlando);
  • Falcon’s Fury (next spring/summer at Busch)
  • I-Drive Live (2014 / 2015)
  • A new slide for Aquatica – SeaWorld’s Water Park (Spring);

LegoLand

  • A new themed area at Florida LEGOLAND

 

Florida bans texting while driving – just about

Texting fine is a measly $30

News is out that Florida has finally tried to toughen up on mobile phone use whilst in cars.  Florida is attempting to catch up on countries and other states that are far more advanced in their laws.  But it is failing.

You can’t be stopped if you’re texting.  It has to be in conjunction with another crime.  You couldn’t make this up.

The fine?  $30.  Administration would cost more.  If you do it twice?  $60.  Ooooooo.

Apparently it’s the 41st state to do so.  I can’t believe it’s legal in some states!  Get with the 21st century please.

Hopefully anyone visiting Florida doesn’t text whilst driving anyway, but just so you know – better keep $30 handy…..

Florida bans texting while driving?  Not really.

Tuscan Ridge Barbera Drive – May update

Fully booked until late August!

tuscan ridge florida villa

Tuscan Ridge – Looking very green and fresh for our renters

Fully booked – great news for our vacation rental but not so great for renters trying to make use of our luxury villa and pool in the 2013 summer months.  We have some good availability in September and late November too, so Thanksgiving could be a good time to book the villa and escape the cold weather in Canada or New York.

This has had a knock on effect in our enquiries.  Perhaps it is a quieter part of the year for holiday bookings, but we’ve almost stalled with enquiries recently, I expect due to the lack of availability in the popular months.  Hopefully we can fill September with a lower rate.

The villa is looking excellent.  We’ve added some luxury items – modern linen all around, a new TV, new pictures and better landscaping, plus we’ve had the lawn looked at more regularly and as you can see in the picture it is really setting the villa off in the sunny blue Florida weather.

It’s been a hectic couple of months for the villa.  Small items are being maintained to make sure that our guests have the best of stays, but a big item failed on us in April – namely the pool heater.  This was a big blow to our accounts but we got it fixed in less than a week and now have a brilliant new efficient 100,000 BTU heater thanks to Doc Deans Pools.  We contemplated a solar heater but they just aren’t guaranteed enough in the winter months and if our guests pay for pool heat then they need to have a good service.

We’ve almost conquered the USA tax system.  See some of our other blogs for more details.  Not too much stress, but a lot of forms to fill in.

Our website goes from strength to strength; there have been some minor updates but the blog has helped break through to Google’s first page for the search phrase “Florida Villa” and “Tuscan Ridge”.  This is in the UK – I would be interested to see how it fares in the Canadian and USA market.

 

Seaworld news – April 2013

Seaworld trainer legal case continues

Since Dawn Brancheau was tragically killed by the Orca Tilikum in February 2010 there has been an ongoing legal battle with Seaworld involving the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It is indicated that Seaworld want their trainers to remain in close proximity during training and in certain Shamu show sections. The OSHA say this is a safety hazard.

Seaworld do not allow their trainers close to Tilikum for obvious reasons.

Tilikum and Orcas at Seaworld

Negotiations are nearing a close although it has taken a long time to get there. Whether the trainers will be near the Seaworld Orcas in the future remains to be seen. Although if they are banned from being close to the Orcas then what will be left of the show?

Seaworld and the car jacking sea lion

Well, it’s not really a car jacking, but a stranded Sea Lion hopped (do they hop?) into Mike Delahunt’s car on Wednesday this week after he left the door open whilst attempting to help the animal. He called Seaworld to come and rescue the Sea Lion, who arrived around 20 minutes later.

The rescue team have quoted:

“The team is optimistic, based on her initial intake exam, that this sea lion will make a full recovery.”

This is rescue number 296 for Seaworld California. 278 of those have been Sea Lions. Seems like they enjoy getting themselves into trouble, or maybe they just want a free Seaworld lunch.

sea lion

A sea lion!

Blackstone prepare Seaworld initial public offering

According to Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-03/blackstone-said-to-plan-moving-ahead-on-seaworld-ipo-this-month.html Blackstone are moving ahead with the initial public offering (IPO) of Seaworld Entertainment (SEAS) and as early as this month – insider information apparently. In an IPO the company markets the sale of shares to potential investors, and offer stock to the public in order to generate funds for the business.

They hope to raise about $500 million in the IPO process. Revenue currently stands at $1.42 billion for Seaworld.